JoeGoaUk's Point of View: Vailankanni

About Vailankanni Trains, Velankanni place, Church, Shrine, Feast etc

27.8.2022

First of the 3 Feast special leaving Vasco da Gama

Showing Vasco, Cansaulim, Majorda, Seraulim, Margao, Chandor, Sanvordem

Kalem, Kulem, Dudhsagar, Braganza Ghat Tunnels, Castlerock etc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sDTX0rYNUQ

Margao Station, platform 2

Sanvordem Station, Platform 2

Update 18.8.22

3 Spl trains to Vailankanni - 5 More sleeper coaches added (Total 10)

Vasco to Velankanni

27th Aug Waitlist was 250+ but now just 24 (good chances for confirmation upto WL50)

2nd Sept Waitlist was 60+ but now tickets available (no waitlist)

6th Sept tickets available were 107 but now available 381

Return from Vailankanni

28th Aug. tickets available

4th Sept. waitlist showing 74 now, ticket available (no waitlist)

8th Sept waitlist was 125+ but now available (no waitlist)

General coaches now reduced to 4+2 (from 7+2)

Its 20 coach train now (earlier, 18)

update 13.8.22

Good news: Feast day returning train 08/09/22 (Thursday) timing revised, Train will now leave Velankanni at 22:30 instead of 09:15 hrs and will reach Vasco Da Gama at 01:00 hrs on the third day, Friday. See Chart amended below.

Booking for this return train not yet started and may start 14.8.22 8 am, if not keep trying 8am on following days, online booking started 18/8/22 8am for this train

Feast day 8/9 IRCTC online return train ticket booking l started from 18.8.22 8am

Update 9.8.22

3 Special (Extra) Trains to Velankanni announced..

Trains leaving Vasco / Margao / Sanvordem on 27/8/22, 2/9/22 and 6/9/22

Trains leaving Velankani on 28/8/22, 4/9/22 and 8/9/22

See chart below

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk79/52282147477/

18 (now 20) (+1 = 21 coach Train for 27/8) having 4 3AC, 5 (+5) Sleeper and 7+2 (-3) General, SLR coaches.

(Sleeper should have been at least 7 reducing general coaches 5+2 or adding few more coaches)

Special 3 trains announced on 9.8.22 (Press note No. 133 dtd 9.8.22)

Booking for 27th August must have started 9th August 8 am within one day sleeper class showing waitlist 171 and 3AC WL33 as at 9am 10/8/22.

Booking for 2/9/22 may start from 12/10/22 and booking for 6/9/22 may start few days later.

Booking for return sector also not started yet, not even for 28/8

Spl Trains ticket booking to start today 8am, 12/8, except 27/8 train booking for which started 9/8

Within 1 hr tickets for 2/9 and retuning 4/9 showing RAC

Returning on 8/9 tickets booking not started though, may start 17/8/22 8am, started 18/8 online

Sleeper coaches could have been atleast 7 instead of 5,
General coaches cud be 5+2 iso 7+2.
Feast day 8/9 train leaving at. 9:15 am should have been after 2pm - Now changed to 10.30pm, see chart above

Please note there are total of ~~720~~ (now 450 seats) in about 9 (now 5 General Coaches). Only 5 sleeper coaches & 4 3AC (Total 18, now 20 coach train). Weekly Monday's train has 21,

If you don't get confirmed tickets in sleeper coach, you may try in General Coach Fare is about Rs.350,

Sleeper Coach fare Rs.720 and 3AC 1860, fare is more than the usual weekly train

Those wishing to go for whole Novena, may still try booking tickets for 27/8, currently waitlist ~~242~~ (WL35 as on 18/8/22), as they may add few more Sleeper coaches to clear the rush (5 added)

Updated 8.8.22

Video: Train to Vailankanni

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x61ngR-ng5w

Train now go direct to Velankani Station eff. 8.8.22, no need to alight at Nagapattinam even if you hold ticket to NGT Nagapattinam, same train will go to Vailankanni Station after about 15-30 minutes break at NGT due to Train Engine reversal etc. i.e. Train will start moving in reverse direction.

Also, train will leave Velankanni Station Tuesday at 23:45, catch the train here even if you hold ticket from Nagapattinnm to Madgaon, Vasco

Update 7.3.2022

Weekly Train re-started from today after about 2 years Covid break but only upto Nagapattinam NGT

Leaving Vasco Da Gama 9am every Monday, calling at Margao, Sanvordem and Kulem in Goa.

Video

https://youtu.be/ZjUJquVw6e8

Update: December 2019
Effective December 30, 2019, the weekly Vasco -Velankani train will have one more general UR coach .(Total 5 UR + 2 SLR+11 Sleeper + 2 3AC + one 2AC = 22 coaches)

Special Train to Vailankani / Vellankani for 2019 feast.

Video: Vailankanni Special Train leaving Vasco, Margao
28.08.2019, 11.15hrs

https://youtu.be/JTLMQw4Lwho
Feast is on 8th Sept
Train No: 07315/07316 leaving Vasco 11.10am on 28Aug, 3Sept and 6Sept (Return from Velankani 29Aug, 4Sept and; 8Sept 8.15pm)
Sleeper ticket Rs.675 and 3AC Rs.1790

Ticket availability as on ~~20/7/19 AM,~~ 26/7/19
For 28Aug Departure - Sleeper - ~~RAC188/RAC156,~~ ~~WL109, 3AC WL34/WL30 ,~~ WL153 4/8
For 3Sept Departure - SL Available ~~511~~ ~~RAC42,~~ RAC147 as on 4/8
For 6Sept Departure - SL Available ~~884, 814,~~ 703 4/8

Note: Booking for Return or coming back tickets from Vailankanni not yet started.
Last year, return booking started 2nd August 8am
Return sector booking started 26th July 8am , by noon all tickets for 8Sept full WL110, full
but for 4Sept ~~350~~, avl 29 4/8

People from Bardez etc can also avail of the special train, stopping at Tivim, 11.06am and Karmali station 11.28am. 3 coach train from Sawantwadi Road will be attached to Vasco-Vellankani train at Margao , booking not yet started as on 9am 28.7.19 and may start soon or tomorrow all full
For Regular train that departs on Mondays (Status as of 20/7/19)
For 26Aug - SL WL386/WL266, 2AC - WL30/WL18, 3AC WL67/WL57
For 2Sept - SL WL204/WL123, 2AC WL20/WL13, 3AC WL50/WL38

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There are also some luxury buses leaving on 27th , 28th Aug, 4, 5th Sept etc
Contact - adverts appeared in Local newspaper Herald

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk26/48452207637/

Plus
Regular daily Buses Goa to Bangalore and from Bangalore to Velankani both leaving in the evening giving one whole day free time at Bangalore sight seeing etc
Fare around Rs.800-1000 per trip/bus i.e. around 3200-4000 per person return
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Other alternate / indirect trains to reach Vailankanni

Other ways of travelling to Vailankanni by train..

Route 1

Vasco/Margao to Bangalore

Leaving 15.10 daily and arriving Bangalore next day 06.45, fare 390 sleeper, 15hrs, 645kms

About 12 hrs free time until your next train

From Bangalore to Thanjavur TJ (Train No: 16232)

19:00 daily arrive TJ next day 04.50 (or get down MV from where velankani is 67Kms)

From Thajavur to Nagapatinam NGT

06:00 daily, 07:55 daily, 08:50 daily, 11:25 daily, 18:00 daily – 2 hours journey

From NGT to velankani is about 13 Kms

04:55 daily, 10:10 daily, 11:40 daily plus other weekly / special trains e.g. Sunday 01:15, 6:30, Th 02:10, FRI 08:05, Tue, 11:40, 17:40, wed, Sat 11:40

One can even go by rickshaw or bus
Returning back to Goa showing no favorable trains on this Bangalore route i.e. it may be good for one way journey only to Vailankanni

Route 2
Tickets were available as of 4/8/19 on this Ernakulam route, both ways

From Margao to Ernakulam Jn ERS

20:15 daily arrive ERS next day 12:15, fare 415 sleeper, 15hrs, 729kms

23:55 daily arrive ERS 14:35

About 7 hours free time until your next / connecting train

From Ernakulam to Nagapatinam NGT

21:45 daily arrive NGT 10:15 12hrs, fare 285 Sleeper, 574 kms

From NGT to velankani is about 13 Kms

04:55 daily, 10:10 daily, 11:40 daily plus other weekly / special trains e.g. Sunday 01:15, 6:30, Th 02:10, FRI 08:05, Tue, 11:40, 17:40, wed, Sat 11:40

One can even go by rickshaw or bus

Route 3
Margao to Trichur TCR travel time 13:25hrs Rs.395 Netravati daily
23:25 12:48
TCR - NGT (Ernakulam -KaraikKal express daily)
00.05 - 10:15 travel time 10:10 hrs Rs.300
NGT - TCR
16:48 - 04:32 11hrs
TCR - MAO
15:30 - 05:30 Note: The above info gathered by me on the net, I have not travel yet on these indirect routes.
However, many years ago, I did travel Goa-Bangalore-Nagpatinam- sector, same train Thanjavur, same timing

====================================
Special Train to Vailankani / Vellankani for 2018 feast
Feast is on 8th Sept

~~Two~~ Three special trains showing up so far
27th August Monday and 2nd Sept Sunday & 6th Sept Thurs
Train Leaving Vasco 11:20 and arrives Vailankani 13:30 next day
Ticket fare: Rs.675 Sleeper and 1750 3AC
Availability as of ~~28/7/18 11am~~ 29/7/18 5.15pm
~~235 SL~~ RAC91 and ~~RAC9~~ WL6 in 3AC for 27th Aug
~~920 805~~ 546SL and 87 51 27 in 3AC for 2nd Sept as on 2/8/18
~~955~~ SL 871 and 73 48 in 3AC for 6th Sept as on 2/8/18
Sleeper availability as of 6.8.18 am
for 27th Aug ~~WL111 /54 -~~ Houseful
for 2nd Sept ~~443 available~~ Houseful
for 6th Sept ~~802 available~~ 600 available as on 2.9.18
Returning sector.. Velankani to Vasco
for 29th Aug ~~803 available,~~
for 3rd Sept ~~224 available,~~
for 8th Sept RAC156/143 sure confirmed seat availability
Update 2.9.18
1st and 2nd special trains left full house.
Tickets of 3rd train for 6/9/18 plenty available (not likely to go houseful)
Video: Train leaving 2.9.18
https://youtu.be/SudT6NHTC_0

Returning trains from Velankanni likely on 29Aug 11.30pm, 3Sept 8.15pm and 8Sept 10.15pm
Return booking started from 8 am today 2/8/18
Returning on 8th Sept tickets almost full in less than 12 hours on 1st day of booking ~~RAC16 as of 22:00 2/8~~. RAC117 as on 4/8/18 Returning on 29th Aug, 3rd Sept plenty tickets available

Other weekly train Mondays leaving Vasco 9am
Wait List on 27th Aug WL428 and 3 Sept WL115

Trip to Vailankani by Bus/ A/c Coach, push back seats etc
Rs.4000 per head or Rs.5000 per head by Inova (7 Pax)
Leaving on 27th Aug and Returning 1st Sept
Leaving on 4th Sept, 5th Sept
As seen on local newspapers and roadside banners

Last year 2017
Our Visit to Vailankani by Special train from Vasco da Gama on 6th Sept 2017
Village: Velankanni, District: Nagapattinam, State: Tamil Nadu, India

We left on 6^th Sept 2017 at 11.20am train from Vasco da Gama and arrived Vailankanni next day at 2pm.

Our hotel check-in timing was 7.30pm so we kept our bags at the reception counter and set out for sightseeing etc. Starting with the beach, restaurant/lunch fish curry thali followed by the Church / Shrine tour.

The entire Vailankani tour was meant for 1.5 days but for me it was like half day only as I was down with high fever the whole night and the next full day. We left the hotel at 7.30pm to take return train to Vasco at 11.45pm from Vailankani station. Back at Vasco 2am (as against 11.45pm)

To find hotel or accommodation there was very tough, somehow we managed to book one triple room online with two extra mattresses for Rs.3,600 (A/c). There was one hotel that was showing Rs.5000 per non- A/c room and the final figure for two rooms with taxes was showing up around Rs.13,000. We were 6.

It was crowded there and people / pilgrims seen squatting all over. It was like Old Goa Novena / Feast scene where we see pilgrim sleeping in the convents and Churches etc but here it was out in the open be it in the roads, garden or passages or corridors.

Everything there was expensive or sold at premium rates. Even Vasaichim like bananas were sold for Rs.130 per kg or Rs.60 half kg (6pcs), we saw lot of banana plantations from our train though!

Fish curry rice thali Rs.150 (pic) but it did not come with fried fish, had to pay extra for fish.

At Church Canteen, the thali was cheaper i.e. Rs.70 + GST and that did not come with fried fish too. We paid Rs.40 a piece + GST (See menu pic)

Many devotees were offering tray full of puja items including coconuts and flowers. Yet some were offering coconut sapling inside the main Church. Sadly, photography/videography is prohibited inside the main shrine.

Masses in all languages including Konkani mass, I missed 10’clock mass in the lower cathedral as I was sick.

Another thing we noted, despite the place being touristic (Church and beaches) the vendors/hawkers speak no other language than Tamil.

During the Car Procession at night, one has be very cautious or best to avoid with kids and elderly. A simple false alarm could trigger a catastrophic stampede like situation. There is simplly a mad rush and half of the crowd are those who already witnessed the Car procession on previous days.

On our way back, our train had no water in most of the washrooms, saw some using mineral water . Water tanks were only filled up once the train reached Mangalore junction around 5.30pm that’s after 18 hours from Velankani station departure.

Our special train, apart from special fare, there were no security personnel nor we saw TC on both sectors. Train to Vailankani was about 70% empty but train back to Vasco was full to the capacity.

Video: 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snfDnxt2Htc

Video: 2 (Night Scene, illumination)
https://youtu.be/GyCP1hXNnP4

Video 3: Car Procession
https://youtu.be/uSRYdnI-8X4

Video 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NUnne8RVxk

Video 5 Walking on knees, Way of the cross etc
https://youtu.be/TzTiExKsFfg

More pics and videos ..